7 Ideas to Celebrate Volunteer Appreciation Week in 2025

Volunteer Appreciation Week is right around the corner! Since 1974, this annual celebration has been a full week for nonprofits to celebrate those who have stepped up to support their cause.

For many nonprofits, volunteers are the lifeblood of their organization. Whether they volunteer their time by helping run an event, give you access to their skills by helping run your programs or other activities, or even raise money on your behalf through peer-to-peer campaigns, your volunteers are an invaluable resource. They donate their time, skills, and support—and they deserve to be celebrated! 

Here are some ways your organization can celebrate Volunteer Appreciation Week.

When is Volunteer Appreciation Week 2025?

In the United States, National Volunteer Appreciation Week 2025 is April 20-26. If you’re in a different country, your volunteer appreciation holiday may take place at a different time! 

Regardless of when you celebrate this group of supporters, these seven ideas will help you give them the recognition they deserve.

7 Ways to Celebrate Volunteer Appreciation Week

If you work in the nonprofit world, you know how important donor retention and cultivation are to your nonprofit’s success.

Volunteer retention and cultivation are equally important! Celebrating your volunteers is just one part of keeping them engaged with your nonprofit, but it’s an important one. Volunteer Appreciation Week is the perfect time to show them how much you appreciate them.

So, how should you celebrate your volunteers this April? Here are a seven ideas for Volunteer Appreciation Week to get you started.

1. Hold a Volunteer Appreciation Week Celebration

Give back to your volunteers by creating an opportunity for them to get social with your staff and with each other. If it’s appropriate, you could even get your clients involved!

You can host your celebration in person at your facility or, if it’s more appropriate, at an outside location. If your volunteers don’t necessarily live locally, you can try a virtual gathering or offer a virtual option for more remote volunteers. 

Here’s simple structure you can use for your event: 

• Start with a Warm Welcome: Kick off the event with a brief thank-you speech from leadership or a special guest, like a beneficiary who has been impacted by volunteer efforts.

• Play a Fun Volunteer Trivia Game: Ask lighthearted questions about your nonprofit’s history, mission, or fun facts about volunteering.

• Do Live Volunteer Shoutouts: Have staff members take turns publicly recognizing individual volunteers for their contributions.

• Share an Appreciation Video: Play a short thank-you video featuring clips from leadership, staff, and community members expressing gratitude.

Between socializing, make sure you share some information about your volunteers’ impact. How many people have they served this year? What positive outcomes were possible because of their support? 

Volunteer appreciation events don’t have to be super fancy, but th

2. Write Them a Personal Thank-You Letter

Start Volunteer Appreciation Week off on a high note by sending each volunteer a heartfelt message of gratitude that makes them feel personally (keyword: personally!) appreciated for their contributions.

Our recommendation? You can never go wrong with a handwritten thank-you note—especially if it includes a personal note from your executive director or a board member. 

In your letter, be sure to spotlight specific endeavors or events that each volunteer has helped make possible. They are an excellent opportunity to remind your attendees how important they are to your work. 

If you need some help or inspiration, here’s some advice (plus five volunteer thank-you note templates) to get you started.

3. Create a Volunteer Wall of Fame

Handwritten notes are great for private messages of appreciations, but you’ll also want to celebrate all your awesome volunteers in a more public and visible way

A great way to do that is by setting up a physical or digital Volunteer Wall of Fame that showcases individual volunteers and the very real impact that they make.  

For an in-person display, set up a bulletin board, hallway display, or mural featuring volunteers’ photos and bios. 

For a digital wall, dedicate a page on your website to showcase standout volunteers or post a series of volunteer spotlights on social media.

Before featuring a volunteer publicly, make sure they’re comfortable being spotlighted. Some people prefer to work behind the scenes, and that’s okay! 

4. Surprise Your Volunteers with a Small Gift

A small, thoughtful gift can make a big impact, especially when it’s unexpected. 

During Volunteer Appreciation Week, surprise your volunteers with some tokens of gratitude that remind them just how much they mean to your organization.

These gifts don’t need to be expensive—in fact, the most meaningful ones are often personal and tied to your mission. The goal is to show that you’ve put thought into recognizing their hard work.

Here are some examples of meaningful gifts you can give to your volunteers: 

• A photo book of volunteer events

• A staff and volunteer recipe book

• Yummy treats or baked goods

• Branded merchandise

• Gift cards or other small tokens of your appreciation

No matter how much money you spend on the gift, it’s important to add personal touches. It’s the small details that make the biggest difference!

Looking for some more inspiration? Check out this list of 55 volunteer gift ideas that’s broken down by price point:

5. Host a Volunteer Awards Ceremony

Whether it’s an in-person luncheon, a casual gathering, or a virtual event, a volunteer awards ceremony is a fun way to highlight your volunteers’ contributions and let them know how much they mean to your organization.

Your awards ceremony can be as formal or informal as you’d like. You can go all out with a full banquet (okay, a catered lunch) or simply take time during a regular meeting to hand out certificates and words of appreciation. 

You can also take this ceremony as an opportunity to share some impact stories. Remind volunteers how much their contributions have changed lives by sharing specific achievements. 

Stay on the award ceremony theme by packaging all these stories together into a video montage. After all, what would the Oscars be without a stirring montage (or 10).  

6. Offer Them Some Special Perks

During Volunteer Appreciation Week, give your volunteers a few special perks as a token of your gratitude. 

Not only will these privileges say “thank you for all your hard work” but they’ll also offer a subtle incentive for them to stick around and see what perks they get next year! 

Volunteer perks don’t have to cost your nonprofit anything—many local businesses are happy to support community volunteers by offering discounts or freebies. 

Plus, when local businesses get involved, you’re also strengthening community partnerships!

7. Do a Volunteer Leadership Event and Q&A

Your volunteers are more than just supporters—they’re a vital part of your mission. 

Hosting a volunteer leadership event with a casual Q&A session gives them the opportunity to connect with leadership, learn about your nonprofit’s future, and feel even more engaged with your work.

This event doesn’t have to be elaborate. Whether it’s a formal luncheon, a casual coffee chat, or a virtual Q&A session, the goal is to create a meaningful space where volunteers can hear from leadership, share their own experiences, and ask questions about the organization’s vision.

If your budget allows, consider providing a catered lunch, coffee, or a small gift as an extra token of appreciation. 

But even without food or gifts, simply giving volunteers a chance to feel heard, valued, and included in decision-making can deepen their connection to your mission.

Remember, It’s the Act of Saying “Thank You” That Matters

It doesn’t matter how you thank and recognize your volunteers. It only matters that you do.

The most important thing you can do this year for Volunteer Appreciation Week is to say “thank you.”

Whether you host an event, give gifts, or simply send heartfelt thank-you cards, make sure you take the time to show your volunteers how much you appreciate their time, labor, and passion.

Stay on Top of Important Holidays with The 2025 Nonprofit Calendar

Volunteer Appreciation Week 2025 is April 20-26. But what about other important dates, holidays, and observances?

Keep tabs on them all by downloading the 2025 Nonprofit Calendar! It’s full information about federal and religious holidays, cause awareness days, and other important dates for the year.

You’ll also discover monthly themes and recommended activities that can guide your own content creation and social activities, plus a sneak peek at some exciting things you can expect from Neon One this year. Grab your copy today!